Board of directors
Jimi Cook
Co-Founder, Board Chairman
Columbia, MO
Co-Founder, Board Chairman
Columbia, MO
Jimi and Cristi Cook founded Be The Change Volunteers in 2007 during a supposed “one time” school building project in Rwanda (BTCV 001). The organization has grown beyond their wildest dreams, and more importantly, has held true to its mission of empowering communities through sustainable education-focused development aid. Jimi’s BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) for BTCV is to complete at least 100 projects during his lifetime. In his “day job”, Jimi serves as the Allen Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics and Mizzou BioJoint Center at the University of Missouri.
Cristi Cook
Co-Founder and Secretary/Treasurer
Columbia, MO
Co-Founder and Secretary/Treasurer
Columbia, MO
Cristi is the Co-founder of Be the Change Volunteers. She and her husband Jimi have served and led teams on education focused development aid projects all over the world. Cristi volunteers countless hours each year recording and depositing donations for BTCV among many other tasks that keep the organizations lights on every day. In her “day job,” Cristi serves as an assistant professor for the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics and Mizzou BioJoint Center at the University of Missouri and "freelance" veterinary radiologist.
Peter Stiepleman
Board Member
Pacific Northwest
Board Member
Pacific Northwest
Peter has been an educator in Oakland, CA and Columbia, MO for more than 25 years. He most recently retired from serving as Superintendent of the Columbia Public Schools, an urban, suburban, and rural district with 19,000 children and 3,000 employees. He learned about Be the Change Volunteers when Jimi Cook made a Rotary presentation in 2016. From that very moment, Peter was determined to find a way to make BTCV a more permanent part of his life. In 2021, that plan came to fruition and Peter served on the El Chino, Peru project. He returned to El Chino the following year and plans to return in the coming year, too. Peter and his wife, Elizabeth Chang, have relocated their family to the Pacific Northwest. Peter enjoys cooking, traveling, writing, advising, and podcasting (https://human-centeredleaders.com/podcasts).
Brian Van Vechten
Board Member
Castle Pines, Co
Board Member
Castle Pines, Co
Brian has managed and owned veterinary practices in both the San Diego and the Denver areas. He currently serves as surgeon and medical director of surgery at the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado in Englewood. Since 2009 he has been on the board of directors or the advisory committee of Be The Change Volunteers. He and his family have served on projects in South America, Peru and Rwanda. Brian has been married to his wife Liz for 24 years. Together, they had 3 children; Alex (Alexandria), Jake (deceased), and Nick. In his free time he enjoys spending time with family, improving youth education opportunities, golf, skiing, hiking, and travel.
Ted Kettlewell
Board Member
Columbia, Mo
Board Member
Columbia, Mo
Ted is the co-founder of OCCI Inc a national engineering construction contractor specializing in railroad, highway bridges and Corp of Engineers lock and dam rehabs. The company motto is “the difficult we do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer.” Which we all feel is a good fit for the BTCV mission and team efforts. Ted has served on multiple trips to Uganda and is highly involved in the BTCV partnership there. Ted shares his vast construction expertise by consulting on construction projects and budgets delivered to BTCV by partners. He is a Missouri native and has been married to his college sweetheart Susanna for 41 years. They have two daughters Jenny and Mary. Ted is honored to serve the BTCV mission and change the world one kid at a time.
John Heidrich
Board Member
Albuquerque, Nm
Board Member
Albuquerque, Nm
I have recently retired from a busy veterinary practice but continue teaching in the veterinary technician program at the junior college and consulting with new veterinary startup companies. I have a passion for improving literacy for our pre-k children in New Mexico (LibrosforKids.org) and abroad. While teaching veterinarians in Cambodia, Jimi recommended I meet the kids at the Floating School. This school was the second school built by BTCV. I was a hooked Changer after visiting the school. Back on the Board for a second term, I can say the evidence of the success of this outstanding non-profit, our dedicated Changers, families, communities, both here and abroad, is weathering the test of time. Build, educate and change lives.
Erin Burri
Board Member
Columbia, Mo
Board Member
Columbia, Mo
My name is Erin Burri and I am Realtor in Columbia, MO. I stay busy as a mom to my 6 year old son, Jackson, and our two golden retrievers! Jackson and I love being outside, especially on the water. My passion for BTCV was ignited by my first build back in 2006 in Nepal. I have enjoyed several BTCV trips over the years including Papua New Guinea and Puerto Rico but more importantly my life has been changed by the relationships and people I have met along the way. Serving on the board for this amazing organization is a privilege and an honor!
Executive Team
Grant Venable
Director of Change
Phoenix, AZ
Director of Change
Phoenix, AZ
Grant is the Director of Change at Be The Change Volunteers, “DOC”. He has led teams and served on projects in North America, Asia, Africa, South America and the Pacific Islands. He runs the day to day operations for BTCV and coordinates all projects. He is experienced in the business sector, construction, international project management, and emergency medical rescue. Grant lives in Arizona with his wife Rachel and their two daughters. The family loves warm weather, hiking, biking and all things outdoors!
Debbie Waggoner
Executive Coordinator of Change
Columbia, MO
Executive Coordinator of Change
Columbia, MO
Debbie retired from State Farm Insurance in September, 2016 after working there for over 40 years. She now serves as Executive Coordinator of Change and Chief Compassion Officer for BTCV. Working daily with the co-founders and director, Debbie ensures that every volunteer is taken care of. She follows her passion of going on builds to help change lives and build relationships with Changers and the people of the communities where BTCV has projects. Debbie has been on builds in India, Malawi, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Puerto Rico.
Thato Mabena
Director of Field Operations, Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
Director of Field Operations, Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
Thato is a graduate of Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, South Africa. He is a professional freelance photographer and also serves as BTCV's Director of Field Operations for Africa. He is an optimistic individual who always has a positive outlook on life with an eagerness to learn.
He has volunteered on projects in Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania and Puerto Rico. In addition he has served on special field assignments for BTCV in Africa. In his free time he enjoys reading, jogging, traveling and helping others.
Advisory Council
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Greg Jones - Legal
Vice President Central Trust Company Columbia, MO Ted Kettlewell - Engineering Vice President OCCI, Inc Columbia, MO Dusty Hoffman - Security Captain Missouri State Highway Patrol Columbia, MO Adam Dube - Education Head of School Randolph School Huntsville, AL Norm Chong - Business Global Business Development Manager Agilent Technologies Austin, TX Scott Daugherty - Construction Owner Fairway Meadows Corporation Columbia, MO Antonio Pozzi - International/Europe Professor of Veterinary Surgery University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland Chris Adejo - International/Africa Office Support Asst./Patient Coordinator, Limb Preservation Center, Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, Columbia, MO Stefano Pozzi - International/Europe Business Advisor Retired Genoa, Italy Joe Reardon - Finance Financial Adviser, CFP Stifel Columbia, MO Diane Lewis - Business Veterinary Dermatologist Institute of Veterinary Specialists Gainesville, FL Elizabeth Kieru - Education Early Childhood Education African Culture Columbia, Mo |
Marc Scott - Endowment Strategy
Past Board Member Chief Investment Officer Country Club Trust Company Kansas City, Mo Julie Estes - Education Past Board Member Central Christian School St. Louis, Mo Pam Plouhar - Education Past Board Member Johnson & Johnson South Bend, In Shari Hamilton - Business Past Board Member Veterinarian IDEXX Columbia, MO Glenn Willett - Business Past Board Member Retired IBM Columbus, OH Doug Willett - Business Past Board Member Executive Vice President Commercial Development Company, Inc Chicago, IL John Heidrich - Business Past Board Member Veterinarian Ventena Animal Clinic Albuquerque, NM Linda Karl - Site Saftey Past Board Member Compliance Manager Missouri Employers Mutual Columbia, MO Elizabeth Kieru - Education Early Childhood Education African Culture Columbia, Mo Herb Bischoff - Phycology School Phycologist Retired Palmer, Ak |
About the BTCV Leadership Structure
BTCV is a volunteer driven organization with only two paid employees on the executive team the Director of Change and the Director of Field Operations for Africa. Our Executive Coordinator is a completely volunteer position on the executive team. The core of our leadership team is all volunteer and includes an Advisory Council and a seven member voting Board of Directors. Together this team works to complete our mission by wisely and diligently stewarding donor gifts.
Advisory Council
The Advisory Council (AC) members each have an area of expertise that is given to BTCV completely on a volunteer basis. Members are engaged through quarterly board meeting reports and direct access to the executive team. AC members may from time to time receive special requests to attend and advise on a section at a quarterly board meeting. AC members may also be selected for committees such as finance or medical. AC members are invited to attend the year end annual leadership meeting in person. The AC is an incubator for nomination to the voting Board of Directors. This council also serves as a seat for past board member retention and continued service within BTCV. The AC has no term limits or voting authority. Members are selected on an invitation basis.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors (BOD) has seven voting seats with two permanent seats for the Co-Founders and five seats that rotate. The rotation is staggered so that all five do not change out at the same time. BOD members must have served two years on the Advisory Council before eligibility for nomination by fellow AC and BOD members. New members are elected by voting board members. Terms are two years with a second consecutive option. After completing terms board members are invited back to the advisory council to remain engaged in BTCV leadership. They may again be nominated after two years off the BOD. BOD members communicate regularly with the Director of Change and meet quarterly. Together they vote on policy, procedure, and the use of BTCV funds including, operations, projects, and grants.
